Guilford, Vermont, USA (Center, West) (Algiers) (Green River)
1849 Guilford

Windham Co. The people of this town took an active part in defending the rights of Vermont against the claims of jurisdiction set up by the State of New York, about the years 1783-4. Guilford produced a number of patriots in this as also in the revolutionary cause. The soil of the town is warm and fertile, exceedingly productive of grain, fruits, maple sugar, butter, cheese, pork, sheep, horses, and beef cattle. It has good mill sites on Green River and branches of Broad Brook, a number of manufactories, a medicinal spring, and various kinds of minerals.

Boundaries. North by Brattleborough, east by Vernon, south by Leyden, Mass., and west by Halifax.

First Settlers. This town was chartered April 2, 1754, to fifty-four proprietors, principally of Massachusetts, and contained 23,040 acres. When granted, the town was a perfect wilderness. The first settlement was made by Micah Rice and family, in Septembers 1761.

First Ministers. The Rev. Royal Girley was the first settled minister in Guilford. He was of the Congregational order, and received the right of land reserved and located for that purpose. He was settled in the year 1775, and died soon after. He was a young man of science, and much respected for his pious and amiable deportment. The second of the same order was the Rev. Henry Williams, Who was settled in 1779. Rev. Bunker Gay, of Hinsdale, preached his ordination sermon. His text was "Death in the pot." He was a violent Yorker, and when the town submitted to the state authority he left with his political brethren. The third, the Rev. Elijah Wollage, was settled in 1794, and dismissed in 1799. The next of that order was the Rev. Jason Chamberlain. He was settled in 1807.

Productions of the Soil. Wheat, 920 bushels ; Indian corn, 9,028 bushels ; potatoes, 31,795 bushels; hay, 3,438 tons; maple sugar, 21,555 pounds; wool, 6.472 pounds.

Distances. Fifty miles south from Windsor, and thirty-one south east from Bennington.


A gazetteer of Vermont... by John Hayward Boston - Tappan, Whittemore, and Mason 1849

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